In Montreal, a yellow house on Rue de Grand-Pré stands out. It is one of the first to be built in a former “Widow’s Alley” …
Posted at 12:00 p.m
“Maybe because of the war or an epidemic? ‘ says Bernard Cooper. Difficult to say, the information comes from a unique book that Bernard inherited when he bought the house four years ago. On around sixty pages, former owners describe everything they could find about the history of the house.
I leaf through the precious gift, sitting in Bernard’s kitchen, whom I don’t even know. I used my I’m writing a series of chronicles about fascinating houses card to be invited.
This has piqued my curiosity for years. And I’m not the only one…
Myriam Bouroche runs the Passion Montréal Instagram account. She photographs houses, publishes her photos and adds historical information from archive documents. Last June, she became interested in the beautiful yellow Rue de Grand-Pré.
“My first place to stay in Montreal was just a short hop away. »
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
There is an old advertisement on the wall.
I don’t know if it’s the color, the fact that it’s landlocked, or the wall next to it that has an old advert on it, but this house is presented like a jewel in a box.
Myriam Bouroche
Myriam Bouroche even invited her Instagram followers to paint the property, which she occasionally does. 30 people from all over the world followed the call.
“Reaching out to people who have never been to Montreal fascinates me! There are people from Ukraine and Russia who are witnessing the war and who, to clear their heads, are designing our houses… It’s unbelievable. »
Bernard Cooper viewed each work with interest. “Someone drew the house by themselves, just as it used to be. Today it is walled up, but that was not the case in 1880.”
Alright, let’s go back in time.
* * *
The album that Bernard Cooper is showing me is called L’histoire d’une maison: la maison de Grand-Pré. According to its authors, the house would be one of the first to be built in this part of Coteau-Saint-Louis, a working-class village. Today we talk more about the plateau.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Bernard Cooper bought the house four years ago.
Justin Bur, member of the Société d’histoire du Plateau-Mont-Royal et de Mémoire du Mile End, later confirmed to me that the building was built between 1874 and 1879. But as for the Widows’ Alley, no traces in old maps… Perhaps an informal nickname?
The house was owned by various middle-class families, including Joseph-Octave Villeneuve, Montreal Mayor and Senator. In 1947 she would have been nicknamed “La flamboyante” among the Duchênes. We can read about it in the album because we had a party there or because the roof was red.
A dozen people, including several children, proudly pose in one photo.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BERNARD COOPER
The house in 1952
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BERNARD COOPER
The house in 1952
In 1979, two men converted the property into a home. They are the ones who wrote his story. They also dedicated a chapter to the architecture of the Second Empire, recognizable by the false attic, the symmetry of the vestibules or the turret with a pavilion roof. It was then used as a dovecote, this is indicated.
” In the sense that… ?
“In the direction in which the pigeons entered!” ‘ Bernard replies with a laugh.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The album The story of a house: the house of Grand-Pré
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The house is well lit.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
stairs to the top
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
stair details
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
attic
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Modern and old come together.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The kitchen of Frédérick Poulin, who lives at 4660
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Much work has been done since then. Bernard Cooper divided the building into two semi-detached houses and a garden level unit. He also took care to give back the cachet of yesteryear, since some parts had been renovated according to the dictates of modernity.
People sometimes stop to thank him for maintaining the house. “I realize that such a house is like a private curator. You benefit from the conversions, but so do the passers-by. »
And lucky fellows, there are…
“Tourists take pictures 12 months a year! Frédérick Poulin said to me when I called him the next day. He bought the left side of the house in 2019 and understands the allure of the place. From his first visit, he knew he was unique.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Frédérick Poulin bought the left part of the house in 2019.
My site still had the original moldings, floors and stairs. It was old and beautiful! I knew that my four children should grow up here.
Frederick Pauline
It is part of a long tradition. Over time he discovered various names engraved by small hands under layers of paint and on some bricks…
* * *
One of Bernard Cooper’s projects was the restoration of the tower. He invites me to visit it. I rejoice… until I see the stairs to take to get there.
It’s a Japanese step staircase. That is, there is a step for each foot, and these steps are particularly narrow. Have you ever squeaked as you walked past a friendly stranger? I do.
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The Japanese step staircase
PHOTO HUGO-SEBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
You must not lose your footing!
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The nervousness was worth it. No sign of a pigeon up there, just two pretty frosted glass windows inviting introspection.
“What does it mean to you to know the history of your house, Bernard?”
“I have the impression that it will continue. It makes me feel good that people were having family fun here… Because I didn’t have that chance. My son was already grown when I bought it. I would have liked to have made Christmas trees, up front… But hey, I have no regrets. I’m starting to make more friends over dinner and making memories as well. »
We’re going back down. Bernard adds that he thinks I’m lucky to be able to ring people’s bells and visit their homes. Many would like to do that.
This is true. Besides, what drives us to observe the homeland of others, sometimes even from the other side of the world?
“Each window becomes a TV screen or a book,” answered Myriam Bouroche. You are immersed in it and the others are characters. What are they doing in there? Do you live like me? »
Well, do you know that here they honor the past by sometimes dreaming of tall fir trees.